(PJ related) CBS: Video Relay Interpreters Companies Busted

curmudgeoness wrote:

I won't pretend to understand anything about the world of interpreters for the deaf. I'm trying to follow this thread, but I have to admit much of it is not clear to me.

As for the rates the interpreters are requesting, I can speak a little bit to that. I have done some simultaneous (oral) interpretation, and it is demanding work. Some 14-15 years ago, I was working in Seattle and hiring court interpreters for some litigation our office was handling. The going rate was $45-50 per hour, so I am not at all surprised that you are encountering interpreters who want $50 per hour. Granted, I do not know how the demands of interpreting for the deaf compare with oral interpretation, but the rates do not seem at all out of line to me, even for an economically depressed area like Detroit.

No problem.... if you wanted to understand something and ask, I'll do my best. Or I'd ask Wilds to help out... he is getting it.

You are right, it is demanding work. Oral or signing interpretation.

Like I said it was from a selfish point of view...not everyone agrees with me, even my peer. They think it's a reasonable hourly wages.

There are some agencies that do charge, in my opinion, way too much to cover for the operational and expenses costs before seeing the profit.

For instance, some agencies do charge $180 to 250 - even more, to send out their interpreters in the field. All require a minimum of 2 hours.

You are also right, the rates are not the same everywhere. When I was looking into an agency for the San Diego and came across this information:

"Sign Language Interpreting services are provided on a fee-for-service basis. DCS does not have the funding to provide free sign language interpreting services. Our basic day rate is $150.00 per hour, with a 2-hour minimum, plus a charge for travel and parking. Rates for evenings, weekends, and holidays are at other rates."

Yet another agency in the same city charged $100 per hr plus fees.... seems cheaper, but that's for ONE interpreter. Charge more if additional interpreters are working as a team. Oof.

One agency here is greedy to the point where they'd spend so much time looking for shitty interpreters and charge the same across the board (to the clients, not the interpreters) so they can profit more.

Just like any other businesses would do... or even compete with lower prices with shitty interpreters to attract clients.

I do understand how demanding the work is - I grew up with them in educational settings and outside.

blondieblue227 wrote:

Come on, are you really that surprised that I get it?
Hahaha

I’m not deaf but I know of the problems you’re describing. You are kinda rambley but you make perfect sense to me.

Sounds like PJ or the venue needs to hire top notch interrupters.
(and Ed needs to keep his hands off them) lmao!
So that being said how can you make that happen for the events you go to?


PS That guy needs to be sued for sexual harassment sounds like. No?

Oh I know I ramble on too much... I really wish someone was sitting here and smacking my head.

Too long! Make it shorter! Get to your points! Stupid fuck... "Kinda"? You are being too kind!

Oh I am not surprised you get it...

LMFAO @ EV keeping his hands off them.... don't think some interpreters would like that suggestion!

What I do for every time I need an interpreter and there is a lot of time before that event, I make every effort to contact the interpreters and discuss with them to ensure things would work out smoothly without any problems or setbacks. Basically, communication is the key.

P.S. Hahaha, no shit! Just wait.... one of these days, he will be exposed with evidences collected against him. We'll see... and no, it's not ME. :silent:

Blondie, you are gonna be pissed but probably not surprised because I feel the same way....

I got this article from twitter about a CP child being turned away from daycare and since the daycare is run by churches, they are not violating the ADA law. http://www.waff.com/Global/story.asp?S=11547970

Poor mom... I know my mom could empathize wit her. You know, my mother turned 17 ten days after I was born?

So imagine at age 19, she raised hell with the school board and managed to get a few teachers putting their jobs on the line when she demanded the public school to allow the use of sign language and providing services such as interpreters.

And she won. It pissed off a lot of parents, some yakked their deaf/hard of hearing children out of the program and into another oral education program.

I never forget that one day on the bus... the yellow limousine as i like to call it ... a classmate's mom who watches us on the bus.... we all felt her heavy thumping coming our way in the very back when we all were messing around. She had to be over 300 pounds because her sides were hitting the seats on both sides as she walked through.

Uh oh. We all looked up in fear.

"Lauuuuurrrrra!! LAURRA!!"

Laura was hard of hearing and spent a lot of time in speech therapy and wasn't allowed to use sign language, but to speak only.

"Don't you dare to use sign language!! You are not stupid like them!!" She gave me a hard and cold stare that felt like ages before slapping her face really hard.

Sobbing, Laura said, "I'm sorry mom!! I won't do it again!!!"

pearljgirl2010 wrote:

I just read through this whole thread and have really learned a lot...you guys have a great discussion here and I think it's awesome that you're taking the time to explain your points--I know it wasn't for MY benefit, but thanks for doing that...and I really hope this sort of stuff gets handled properly in the future.

Danke, pearljgirl2010!

And I'm especially with you on the last statement....I would be very happy to see others relieved and having not to "lose" out so much if others saw it too when it does happens. That's a huge relief, J.

Dannnnkeee!

EDIT: I didn't want to bump this thread because it isn't related to the post, but I spent so much time on this thread yesterday that I had a bizarre dream.

pearljgirl2010, you were in it. :P decides2dream too but I don't know why! 2nd time she's in it.

I had the ability to teleport to anywhere I wanted to go as soon as I hit a certain speed on a bike, especially on a hill on the road or sidewalk.

Went to several places but went to Australia and ended up being stuck going shopping with an old college roommate. She was so vain and knew i hated shopping. Then a salesman pitied me and led me to a room that had a "slide" to get away. I thanked him and left... back to my house somewhere in another country.

Everyone, including you and d2d, were partying at my house and I was like :shock: What's going on here!!!

blondieblue227 wrote:

Yeah I know churches are not covered by the ADA. Something that has to do with the separation of church and state.
Which is damn hypocritical if you ask me. those people are supposed to embrace everybody, what message is it sending if you can’t access their services?

I know! *shakes head*

Funny, I called around Catholic churches for assistance and it got to the point where I had to move further outside of my home county... left a message.

My hubby came to me later asking did I call this church? I said yes, why did they call back?

"Yeah, they said they can't help us because we don't live in their county."

"Oh, now God is discriminating?" Sheesh.

Just got home a while ago from the workshop for the new interpreter system, BEI.

The interpreters were really loud and hogging all the questions, not giving us the chance to ask questions! Sheesh. They were so mad that they spoke, not signing. Assholes.

But funny.... the state interpreter who is responsible for administrating the system and testing was giving a presentation and at one point, one deaf person raised his hand.

"I don't understand your signing...please let that interpreter translate your presentation." Several others nodded in agreement.

Ooh, her face was P-R-I-C-E-L-E-S-S!!! *smirks*

Lots of information and questions...but gonna be very very very ugly before it gets better. Oy vey.

One thing I am deeply disappointed in is the classification they've decided to put in for performance interpreting (plays/concerts/tv) is in Class 3, where BEI level 2 will be.

I wanted it placed with BEI III, Level 3.

I asked the director, who is deaf herself, why?? She sighed and said she had to compromise because a lot of interpreters complained and their voices were louder..... sigh.

We got a long way to go here. Oof.

blondieblue227 wrote:

it seems your voice needs to be louder then!
there's power in numbers, remember that.

I know! The problem is getting them together and make noises together. I keep getting excuses from them. ARRGGHH!! They do not like politics because they are not familiar with the system and are intimidated by it.

Too much apathy and uneducated. Others are simply uninformed because they usually are the last ones to know.

Which was one of the points for this workshop - to educate them so they'd speak up, but damn the interpreters wouldn't because they are ahead of us with the information they already know.

I have so much work to do. I am part of an unofficial organization for training and advocacy. We have set up more meetings after this workshop on getting more numbers and get them heard/seen.

I'm already stressed out on top of dealing with other things. But I cannot afford to sit back on this one. I just can't.

I can't focus on performance interpreting issue because education is priority. I'll just have to deal with it for the time being. I'd just simply keep filing complaints if BEI II terps do lousy jobs at performance shows...

Then that would generate some attention and call for a change in the rules. :P

blondieblue227 wrote:

I read tom brokaw’s book about the 60’s and it inspired me so much....gah!.....I wrote a 9 page paper. it just poured out of me.
In it I try to guess why the disability rights moment is so lame.
Like you said one of the reasons is because people don’t unite to fight. I just don’t get it, and it makes my hella angry.

My paper: http://www.ivykennedy.com/letters/paper.htm

Thanks! I will read that! I definitely could use more inspirations to keep the energy going.

blondieblue227 wrote:

You just don’t stop fighting, ok?

No, ma'am, I won't.

Mom would be pissed if I did...